Doun’t count out the underdogs
Next weekend’s main events in both the UFC and Affliction both feature a couple of big name fighters who will enter their respective fights both as the favorite. Most experts, fans and even fighters have already predicted that pair as being the ones whose hands will be raised in victory at the end of the fight. But if history has proved anything, it is that no fighter can ever be underestimated. Just ask Quinton Jackson.
Although Forrest Griffin wasn’t considered a slouch by any means, most people did not give him a legitimate chance at taking the light heavyweight tittle away from Jackson. It was left up to Griffin to make believers out of all those naysayers. This upcoming weekend, two more fighters will have that same chance.
At UFC Fight Night 14, Anderson Silva is leaping up to the light heavyweight division to take on James Irvin. And even though Silva will be making a twenty-pound jump, he will still enter the fight as the heavy favorite.
But let’s not forget Irvin needed only eight seconds to win his previous fight. With that kind of punching power, Irvin could never be counted out of any fight.
Meanwhile, over at Affliction’s main event, not many people are giving Tim Sylvia much of a chance as he prepares to take on Fedor Emelianenko. That is a bit ironic in itself since Sylvia comes in with such a tremendous size advantage. In Affliction’s promotional pics, Sylvia towers over Fedor making it look as though the two fighters do not even belong in the same weight class.
Let’s also not forget that Sylvia was once the UFC Heavyweight champion. However short-lived, Sylvia still held one of the most coveted titles in the sport. And although Fedor is one of the most feared heavyweights in mixed martial arts, he has never stepped foot in the octagon.
Being that the UFC is considered the mma’s premier organization, Fedor couldn’t truly be the most dominant heavyweight without having defeated the sport’s best. And without having fought in the UFC, Fedor cannot truly be branded with that distinction.
Sylvia now has the chance to score another victory for the UFC even though he has left the organization. Likewise, Irvin has the chance to show how much talent lies within the UFC.
The bottom line is that it doesn’t really matter who enters the fight as the favorite. All the odds fall by the wayside once the fight begins. When the fight commences, the underdog then has the same chances as the favorite. Just ask Forrest Griffin.
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